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(No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. L. H'INDS. LAMP SOCKET.

No. 466,288. r Patented Dec. 29, 1891 WITNESSES: INTOR a ATTORN v.3

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(No'ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' J. L. HINDS.

r LAMPv SOGKBT.

No. 466,288. Patented Dec. 29', 1891.

WITNESSES: 4 NVENT g- I MW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE L. HINDS, oE sYRAousE, NEw YORK, AssieNor. TO THE ELECTRIC ENGINEERING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, or sAME PLAoE.

LAM P-SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,288, dated December 29, 1891 Application filed July 23, 1891.

T0 at whom; it may concern:

which possesses a maximum degree of efliciency and durability and is manufactured at a minimum cost.

To this endit consists, essentially, in a nonconductor base-plate, a terminal-carrying bracket secured to the base and adapted to support the lamp; aU-shaped bracket also secured to the base-plate and provided with a second terminal, a circuit opening and closingspring interposed between the base-plate and bracket and formed with a laterally-extending arm having an outwardly-turned engaging end, a cam for rocking said spring-arm, a spindle having one extremity connected to said cam with a loose motion between the two and the other formed with a laterally-extending shoulder, and a hand-piece formed with a depressed shoulder adapted to engage the laterally-extending shoulder of the spindle.

The invention furthermore consists in a porcelain base-plate and a porcelain handpieee and in the detail construction and arran geinent of the parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In describing my invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved socket; Fig. 2, an elevation of one end of a lamp adapted to be secured to said socket. Fig. 3'is an elevation of the detached internal parts of the lamp-socket shown at Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical Serial No. 400.493. (No model.)

sectional view taken on line 5 5, Fig. 3. Figs. 6, '7, and 8 are respectively isometric perspectives of the contact-spring, the U -shaped bracket for supporting the cam-spindle, and the inner terminal of the lamp-socket adapted to engage the lamp-collar carrying the corresponding lamp-terminal. Fig. 9 is an isometric perspective of the bracket secured to the insulator base-plate for supporting the second insulator-plate. Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively isometric perspectives of the top and bottom faces of the insulator base-plate. Fig. 12 is an isometric perspective of the top face of the second insulator-plate. Fig. 13 is an isometric perspective of the detached socket secured to the second insulator-plate for supporting the lamp. Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the outer case of the lamp-socket, taken in a plane at substantially right angles to that ofFig. 1; and Fig. 15- is an inverted plan view of the detached top wall of said outer shell.

A represents the outer shell of the socket, consisting of ,the side or peripheral wall a, the top wall 0/, and the bottom wall a. Projecting from the top wall a is the nipple a formed with the projecting flange a, extending beyond the inner face of the top wall a, and with screw-threads on its interior wall adapted to receive a suitable screw-threaded support. (Not necessary to show ordescribe.)

a is a brace formed with a ring a, which encircles the flange a, and outwardly-extending arms a having their ends arranged on the inner face of the upper extremity of the peripheral wall a. The inner extremity of the nipple a is upset at a upon the ring or collar to and is thus prevented from turning,

as clamp-screws a", Fig. 14, are passed through openings formed in the depending flange of the top wall a, the upper extremity of the side wall, and in the extremities of 'said arms a7.

The bottom wall a of the outer shell A- is formed with a shoulder A, adapted to bear against the bottom edge of the side or peripheral wall a, and is provided on its interior with screw-threads A adapted to engage like screw-threads on a socket, presently described, secured to the internal parts of the lamp for firmly'securing together the outer shell and the internal parts of the lampuse does not burn or char, as is the case with some non-conductors, as vulcanized fiber.

Formed in the peripheral edge of the por-; celain base ll, as seen at Figs. 10 and 11, are.

slots 11 for receiving the lower extremities of the arms a and projecting inwardly from said slots are the recesses 1), adapted to receive the inner ends of theclampscrews a",

which, in addition to securing together the topand side walls of the shell, also support thebase-plate by engagement with said recesses.

O is a bracket (best seen at Figs. 1, E3, 5, and

9) consisting of a pair of oppositely-arranged arms 0 and a ring 0' The armsc are formed with feet 0 which rest upon the lower face of the plate B and areiirmly secured thereto by screws 0, having their shank engaged with said feet and their head with a depressed shoulder b of a socketb in the top face of the base-plate B. C, which carries a retainingscrew O? for one of the electric wires, *hich passes through face of said base, and outwardly through the nipple (1- Supported upon the ring 0 is a second plate D, formedof suitable insulating material, and preferably poroelaimsince the same is particularly durable, as previously registered with the central opening of the ring 0', and with a horizontal annular shoulder (1, adapted to rest against the lower face of said ring.

E, Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 13, represents a lampsupporting socket having at its upper extremity a flange 6, provided with lugs e, aligned with lugs c of the ring a and adapted to receive clamp screws 6*, which are passed through said insulator-plate D, and the feetc" and e for securing together the bracket 0, the insulator-plate D, and the socket E, and for transmitting the electricity from the bracket 0 to said metallic socket, which, as previously stated, is engaged and drawn into position by the ring or bottom wall a of the shell A.

The upper extremity f of thelampF (shown at Fig. 2) is formed with a screw-threaded outer metallic collar f, adapted to be screwed within the socket E, and thus be brought into contact with the metallic shell E and make an electrical connection with one of thelampterminals f The other lamp-terminal f is connected to the inner collar f of the lamp, which is separated from the outer collar by insulating material f and is adapted to be engaged by the corresponding socket-terminal G, which consists, preferably, of a sheetmetal plate passed through an opening D in the insulator-plate D, with one end 9 formed Upon one arm 0 is a lug a groove C in the peripheryor side of the inisolator-base, then along a groove C in the top stated. The plate D is formed withahub (Z, 1

with a depressed surface g, adapted to 011- counter the ringf. The opposite end of the sheet-metalplate lies on the upper face of the insulato1'-plate-D and is securcdin po- I sition by a clamp'screw 9 ll represents a Ushaped bracket, secu red to the bottom face of the insulator base-plate by screws it, having their shank engaged with said plate and their head with a depressed, shoulder formed in a socket h 111 the top face I of the insulator-plate.

Projecting downwardly from the base of the bracket H is a lug ll, that receives a retaining-screw I1 forthe opposite electric wire,

- which also passes through a peripheral groove 0 and a top groove C in the insulator baseplate, and thence through the nipple (1,

Us a spring formed, preferably, of a double- U shape, with one extremity 11 supported on the. base-plate B, being preferably inserted in a slot or groove B and interposed between the base-plate B and the bracket II in order that for the sakeof economy the same screw that holds the bracket H to the plate 13 may also retain the springI in operative position.

This spring I is formed with an arm '5 ex- I tending downwardly in a substantially vcrtical plane on the outside of the vertical arm h of the bracket ll,and isprovidedwith a I laterally-extending arm i having the outwardly or downwardly bent, engaging end "6* formed with the GOlltFtCtrfGOtl for'making contact with the upper extremity of the terminal G. Lateral movement of the spring-arm i is prevented by means of lugs h, depending from one of the arms h and engaging the opposite edges of said springarm. The spring-arm i is forced into engagement with the terminal G by means of a cam J, having oppositely-arranged cam-teeth j, adapted to engage the base of said arm.

The spindle K for supporting and rocking the cam is journaled at its opposite extremities in the opposite arms 71, of the bracket H, and is provided at its inner extremity With a lug or lugs 7.2, mounted in a slot j, which is formed in the outer face of the cam J and is of greater width than the diameter of said lug 7r, for connecting the spindle and cam together with a lost motion in order that the breakage of the circuit may be sufficiently quick to prevent burning of the parts.

L represents the hand piece for operating the spindle K withoutdangerof receiving the electric shock. This hand-piece is also composed of porcelain for the reasons previously stated, and also because it presents a neat and finished appearance.

Although porcelain is so well fitted as a handpiece for electric switches, no such handpiece has to my knowledge been used, as it has been impossible to practically attach the same. This difficulty is, however, overcome by my invention, since, as best seen at Figs. 1 and 4, the hand-piece is formed with an aperture Z for receiving the spindle and with a socket Z, which isof greater width in one plane than the aperture and is formed with a depressed shoulder Z The extreme end of the spindle extends slightly beyond the shoultremity' of the spindle may be previously split before the hand-piece is mounted thereon, and by the entrance of a proper swaging-tool may be then firmly secured in position.

The operation of my invention will be readily perceived from the foregoing description and upon reference to the drawings,'and.

it is evident that the parts are simple in construction and when operatively assembled form an elfective and practical socket, which may be produced at aminimum cost, as the greater number of the parts are produced from sheet metal.

It is evidentthat the detail construction and arrangement of the parts of my lampsocket may be somewhat varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. Hence I do not limit myself to its exact detail construction.

Having thus fully described myvinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Incombination,abase-plate B, a bracket H, secured to the base-plate and formed with an arm 71 adapted to carry one of the socketterminals, the herein -described double-U- shaped spring I, having one end fixed and formed with an arm t extending at the outside of the bracket-arm k alaterally-extending arm i extending outwardly from'the arm 1' and an engaging'end '5 extending downwardly from the arm i a cam for engaging the spring-arm '5 and forcing its engaging end 2' into contact with the corresponding lamp terminal, and a spindle loosely con- .nected to said cam for operating the same,

substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

2. In combination, a base-plate, a bracket secured to the base-plate and adapted to carry one of the socket-terminals, an arm h, extending outwardly from the bracket and formed at its end with the opposite lugs h h,

a spring having one end engaged with the base-plate, an arm 1' on the spring disposed on the outer face of the bracket-arm h ,an arm i on the spring extending laterally from the arm 2' between the lugs h M, an engaging end i on the spring extending downwardly from the arm 2' and formed with a laterallyengaging foot 2", a cam for engaging the arm i of the spring and forcing its engaging end 2' into contact with the corresponding lampterminal, and a spindle loosely connected to said cam for operating the same, substantially as specified.

3. The herein-described handle for switches, the same comprising an insulating handpiece formed with a depressed socket opening from its outer face and formed of greater diameter in one plane than that at right angles thereto and formed with a central aperture leading from the inner face of the handpiece to said socket, and a spindle having its outer extremity passed through said aperture into the socket and upset upon the inner shoulder of said socket for preventing contact of the hand with said spindle extremity and independent rotation of the hand-piece, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination,with a supporting-plate D, having an aperture therethrough, and the terminal G, consisting of a U-shaped plate having one end g on one side of the plate D and the other 9 passed through said plate and adapted to be engaged with the corresponding lamp-terminal, of a base-plate, a spring-arm mounted on said base-plate, and a cam for rocking the same into engagement with the terminal for opening the circuit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with an outer shell, of a base-plate B, a bracket having one extremity secured to the base-plate and the other formed with a ring, a second plate provided with a hub inserted through said ring, a terminalsecured to the second plate and adapted toengage the corresponding lamp-terminal, a U -shaped bracket secured to the base-plate, a spring supported on the base-plate and formed With a flexible laterally-extending arm adapted to engage said terminal, and a cam for tensioning the arm, substantially as described.

6. In combination, a non-conductor baseplate, a bracket having arms provided With laterally-extending feet secured to the baseplate, a ring at the opposite extremity of said bracket having inwardly-extendipg'lugs, a second non-conductor plate mounted upon the ring, a lamp-supporting shell having an inwardly-extending flange resting upon the plate, clamps passed through said plate and engaged with the lugs of said bracket and the flange of said ring, and a terminal supported on the plate, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination, a non-conductor baseplate, a bracket having arms provided with laterally-extending feet secured to the baseplate, a ring at the opposite extremity of said bracket having inwardly-extending lugs, a second nod-conductor plate mounted upon the ring, a lamp-supporting shell having an inwardly-extending flange resting upon the plate, clamp-screws passed through said plate and engaged with the lugs of said bracket ICC IIO

and the flange of said ring, a terminal supplate, a ring at the opposite extremity of said bracket having inwardly-extending lugs, a

second non-conductor plate mounted upon the ring, a lamp-supporting shell having an inwardly-extending flange resting upon the plate, clamps passed through said plate and engaged with the lugs of said bracket and the flange of said ring, a terminal supported on the plate, a spring having one extremity secured to the base-plate and the other adapted to engage said terminal, a cam for forcing said spring and terminal into contact with each other, a spindle connected to said cam with a loose motion between the two and formed with a laterally-extending shoulder at its extremity, and a hand-piece secured to 

